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Working Together to Save our Trees
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Thank you to all of our residents, businesses and organizations who helped band our trees this fall. Tree Banding is an important first step in controlling the fall cankerworm population.
Even with Charlotte's best efforts, the fall cankerworm populations are still high enough to endanger our trees. With the support of the City Council, the City recommends a second step in the infested areas – aerial spraying.
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Aerial Spraying
Last Updated at 4:00 PM on 4/11/08
Now that the aerial spray has ended, residents may see cankerworms falling out of the trees. Although this is a messy process, this is normal, and should last for a short period of time. The dead cankerworms are not dangerous if ingested by pets or birds. The fact that some cankerworms are still alive when they come down from the treetops does not mean the spraying was ineffective. Bt does not kill the cankerworms on contact. They die within a few days after ingesting the substance.
There is no clear measurement that can be used at this time to confirm how many cankerworms were eliminated during the spray.
Residents affected by the aerial spraying will have until Tuesday, April 15 to wash their vehicles of residue left from the spray. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities will temporarily suspend the water use restriction on residential car-washing during this time.
The aerial spray program is an important tool used to help control the cankerworm population and save our tree canopy. In the coming weeks the City will monitor the tree canopy's health to see how much the aerial spray cut down the cankerworm's damage. However, the aerial spray's effectiveness will also be measured when the City bands trees in the fall.
Aerial spraying ended Tuesday, April 8. The map shows the blocks, or north/south segments, that were sprayed.
For automatic notification of cankerworm updates, sign up for the Notify Me service on our website.
Information about areas that have received the aerial application is available through 311.
Here are the top questions regarding the spraying. For more details about the spraying, please review the Frequently Asked Questions listed below.
- Why is the City conducting an aerial spraying? Charlotte has been experiencing infestations of the fall cankerworm for the last 20 years. By eating the leaves off of large, old trees in the spring, the cankerworm weakens the trees and causes them to die. We have been able to help slow them down with our banding programs. However, their numbers and the size of the affected area have increased to the point many of our trees are at risk.
- Should I bring my children inside during the spray? You are welcome to do that, but it is not necessary. If you are concerned, stay indoors.
- Will the spray affect my pets? There have been no known affects of the aerial spraying of Bt around animals or fish.
- Should I bring my pets inside during the spray? You are welcome to do that, but it is not necessary. If you are concerned, stay indoors.
- Will the spray affect my car's paint? Over the many years of use of Bt in aerial spraying, there have been no documented cases of harm to automotive paints.
- Should I wash my car after the spray? The carrier for Bt is similar to tree sap. The sooner you wash your car after the aerial spray, the easier it will be to get off of the paint. In response to requests to clean off residue from the cankerworm spraying program, residents affected by the aerial spraying will have until seven days after the spraying to wash their vehicles. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities will temporarily suspend the water use restriction on residential car-washing during this time.
More Questions and Answers about Aerial Spraying | Download (PDF)
- Why is the City conducting an aerial spraying? Charlotte has been experiencing infestations of the fall cankerworm for the last 20 years. By eating the leaves off of large, old trees in the spring, the cankerworm weakens the trees and causes them to die. We have been able to help slow them down with our banding programs. However, their numbers and the size of the affected area have increased to the point many of our trees are at risk.
- When will the spraying occur? The aerial spray will take place between late March and early April depending on weather and the emergence of the caterpillars.
- What material will be sprayed? The product we will be using is Foray 48B. This is not a chemical insecticide. It contains Bacillus thuringiensis which is commonly referred to as Bt. Bt is a naturally occurring organism that is already present in our environment.
- What are the effects of Bt on the environment? The variety of Bt we will be using only affects caterpillars that are actually feeding at the time of the spray. The caterpillars must ingest the substance for it to be effective. Once ingested, the Bt reacts with the alkaline digestive tract found in caterpillars. It doesn't harm other insects such as bees, flies and beetles. Because mammals have different digestive system conditions, the Bt will not have the same affect on wildlife, birds, household pets and humans. Sunlight quickly deteriorates Bt until it is gone within 48 to 72 hours of the spray.
- How will citizens be notified of the spraying dates? The City will work with the local media to notify citizens of the parts of Charlotte that will be sprayed and when. Updates will also be posted on our website, cankerworm.charmeck.org, and residents can get up-to-date spraying information by calling 311.
- How safe is it to fly low over the city? The FAA will have to approve the qualifications and congested area plans for the aircraft that will be used over Charlotte. Many cities and towns throughout the United States are sprayed by low-flying aircraft every year.
- Has Bt been sprayed in Charlotte before? The City has sprayed for fall cankerworm in 1992 and 1998.
- Has Bt been sprayed over populated areas before? Bt has been sprayed annually in North Carolina for the control of gypsy moths. Areas in and around Hendersonville and Morganton were sprayed for the moths last year at a much higher rate than we will use in Charlotte, with no detrimental effects.
- Have there been any problems with spraying over populated areas? Bt has been used for decades over cities and towns throughout the United States and Canada. There have been no reports of any adverse effects of these sprays.
- Will the spray aircraft and materials be protected from potential terrorists? The contractor that is awarded the bid will be held responsible for securing their aircraft and equipment. The City will be inspecting these locations for compliance.
- Will the spray affect my children? There have been no known affects of the aerial spraying of Bt around children.
- Should I bring my children inside during the spray? You are welcome to do that, but it is not necessary. If you are concerned, stay indoors.
- Will the spray affect my pets? There have been no known affects of the aerial spraying of Bt around animals or fish.
- Should I bring my pets inside during the spray? You are welcome to do that, but it is not necessary. If you are concerned, stay indoors.
- Will the spray affect my car's paint? Over the many years of use of Bt in aerial spraying, there have been no documented cases of harm to automotive paints.
- Should I wash my car after the spray? The carrier for Bt is similar to tree sap. The sooner you wash your car after the aerial spray, the easier it will be to get off of the paint. In response to requests to clean off residue from the cankerworm spraying program, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities will temporarily suspend the water use restriction on residential car-washing for seven days following the spraying.
- Should I wash my outdoor equipment and furniture after the spray? Because the carrier for Bt is similar to tree sap, the sooner you wash it off surfaces, the easier it will be to remove. If you are concerned about the substance getting on outdoor equipment and furniture, you can cover the items during the spray. To rinse items after the spraying, simply use soap and water. The rinsing of pavement and equipment is not restricted and does not require special consideration from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities. Of course, all efforts to conserve water are urged and appreciated during the ongoing drought conditions.
- Will the entire city be sprayed? The treatment area covers almost 70,000 acres or 40% of Charlotte. There are some exclusion areas within this zone, such as the interstates, heavy industrial areas and uptown Charlotte, that are not necessary to spray since they have fewer trees. For a copy of a map of the spray area, see our website at cankerworm.charmeck.org.
- Why are only certain neighborhoods sprayed? The City has been monitoring the cankerworm populations every winter for the last 15 years. We use this information to predict heavy defoliation the following spring. We also use this information coupled with aerial surveys of damage to determine the neighborhoods where aerial sprays need to be applied. Your neighborhood has not shown high enough readings to warrant an aerial spray. We will continue to monitor the populations in the future. If your neighborhood becomes heavily infested, it will be scheduled for programs by the City to help control this destructive insect.
- If the City is not spraying certain areas within the infested areas, won't that cause the fall cankerworm to re-infest our neighborhoods? Certain urban areas that have very few trees are being excluded from the spray. This saves the cost of aerial spraying in places where the cankerworm is minimal. The exclusion areas will not provide a place for cankerworms to re-infest surrounding neighborhoods.
Human Health Surveillance - British Columbia
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Fall cankerworm (Alsophila pometaria)
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Does Charlotte have a fall cankerworm problem?
For the past twenty years, the cankerworm population in Charlotte has continued to grow. Natural controls have not been adequate to bring the cankerworms to a level that isn't harmful to our tree canopy. Aerial spraying (in 1992 and 1998) and other natural factors reduced the population for several years but the numbers have continued to grow each year. The City started a banding program on street trees, while requesting homeowners to cooperate in 1990. The banding efforts have continued for the last 16 years.
Entomologists cannot explain why the cankerworm population continues to increase but the city's large concentration of old willow oaks may promote the infestation. Today the cankerworm population affects approximately 73,000 acres or about 40% of the Charlotte area.
What effect will tree banding have on the cankerworms?
Tree banding in November and December is an effective way of controlling the cankerworm. By applying a glue barrier to the tree trunk, the wingless cankerworm moths are trapped as they climb the tree. For best results, trees should not be banded before the third week of November.
How can I help control the fall cankerworm population?
The City of Charlotte is asking citizens to help control the cankerworm population by banding trees in their communities. To band a tree, the following materials are necessary and can be purchased at most hardware and garden stores: staples, staple gun, disposable elbow length gloves, roofing felt, cotton batting or fiber glass, Tanglefoot™ (glue) and a putty knife. For small trees, you can substitute electrical tape for the staples. Do not use nails.
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Step 2: Position a band of roofing felt over the strip and attach it to the trees with the staple gun. Avoid using staples on small, young or thin barked trees. Instead use electrical tape to hold the bands.
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Step 3: Using disposable gloves and a putty knife, put a film of Tanglefoot™ (glue) directly on the band, approximately 1/8" thick.
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The Fall Cankerworm will be trapped on the tree band as it climbs the tree trunk.
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In order to be effective, all trees need to be banded. The worms feed on all types of trees. Large trees (taller than a two story house) are the main focus of banding. Small trees can also be banded.
The glue Tanglefoot™ should be applied after most of the leaves have fallen. If the trap becomes clogged with leaves or insects, you should clean it, renew the Tanglefoot™ or install a new trap. The bands should be removed during the first week of February.
There are other banding products available at some stores. For example, Bug Barrier™, is also effective against the Fall Cankerworm. Its design and convenience may work better for you. In addition, there are private contractors that will install bands on your trees for a fee.
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Tree Banding Supplies can be purchased at the following retail stores:
Myers Park Hardware
923 Providence Road
704-334-1613
Products: Large Quantity of Tanglefoot
Little Hardware Co.
1400 South Mint Street
704-333-3133
Products: Tanglefoot and Bug Barrier
Southern Ace Hardware Co.
3528 Wilkinson Boulevard
704-399-7131
Products: Insulation, Tarpaper, Tanglefoot and Paper, J.T. Eaton Gel Trap
Norwood Garden Center
8837 Albemarle Road
704-536-4848
Products: Tanglefoot
Potts Hardware
5201 Nations Ford Road
704-523-7112
Products: Tanglefoot
Blackhawk Hardware
4225 Park Road Shopping Center
704-525-2682
Products: 5lb. Tanglefoot, 15 oz. Tanglefoot, 15 oz. Tanglefoot with 50' band, Pre-coated Tanglefoot band, will cut banding by the foot
Organic Plant Healthcare
626 W. Charles Street
Matthews, NC 28105
704-361-4088
Faulk Brothers
5744 N. Tryon Street
704-596-7474
Products: All Tanglefoot products and banding kits
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